'Immigrant Rights' Graffiti Posted in Downtown Duluth

Immigrant rights graffiti was posted in two places in Downtown Duluth apparently over the July 4 weekend.

Duluth Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee reported that graffiti art appeared on the side brick wall of the former Economy Pharmacy building at the corner of Main Street and W. Lawrenceville Street. The circular image depicted a map of the United States and a tree with roots with the words "Immigrant Roots" above the map and "Immigrant Rights" below it.

A poster was put on the historic Calaboose (jail) farther down on Main Street, but was partially torn or peeled, he said.

Two pieces of nearly identical graffiti also appeared in nearby Downtown Norcross over the holiday weekend. The same circular image was placed on the brick wall of the building that houses Dominick’s restaurant at Cemetery Street and Skin Alley.

The other piece was posted in Thrasher Park in Norcross. It appeared to be a poster of a woman holding up a sign, but the message was unclear. The word "rights" could still be read, despite some of the image being peeled off. 

The circular image was spotted in Washington, DC, in 2009, according to this blog post. 

The image was also part of a May Day rally organized in Washington, DC, in 2009 by the National Capital Immigration Coalition.  

The immigration issue is in the forefront since House Bill 87 went into effect in Georgia July 1 with the exception of two provisions that were enjoined by a federal court ruling. The Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights encouraged immigrants to stage a “day without immigrants” Friday on the effective date of H.B. 87.

A protest against the new law occurred at the State Capitol Saturday with reports of 8,000 to 14,000 participating.